IN

r, bloodied, face swollen, streak

ly for

man in a tuxedo with an unnerving

o the side, pos

do murmured somethi

the bloodied man began, but hi

n had shot hi

agony, and I clapped a hand over

h

urried movements, leaned in, whi

said brought the man d

ne raised his gun and shot the ma

l, and the room

hurning, bile rising in my throat

ked

of them tu

t as their gaze

my heels. I ran down the corrid

ps behind me sent me into panic. I

than a firm arm pulled me from beh

me backward. I kicked and strugg

wiftly back

my voice shaking, when the

cold, command

he one in the tuxedo, now stood

rey eyes swept over me, cold and

ed me like a butt

" His voice wa

est. "W-what? No one! I wasn't sen

r towering over me

. "I-I was lost. I went to the bath

expression unreadable but no less inti

re

ke. "I didn't see a

," he cut in, h

ng so fast that I felt like I was g

want to leave

ad shot the man in the chair earlie

looks ha

s didn't leave mine, and they were

I folded under the w

ed finally, his voice soft

ra," I s

ips curving into the faintest hint

nd you. And I'll hurt y

nodded quickly. "I won'

last time, and something in his

icker of something

oo

y thought to it, I took off run

room, heels pounding against the f

thrum of music and chatter swall

r the deafe

the bar, her head

g her face with relief as I stumb

n looking ever

e bathroom," I said, forcing a laug

ce is lik

t push the issue. "You l

r my shoulder toward the corridor I

feelin

ment, then nodded. "Of cou

out the window, my heart still ra

d the eerie authority he exuded. As the club faded into the distance,

i

some food, insisting I eat someth

atted about the club, completely

ide

nice said. "Even if the night didn

mile. "Yeah, it wa

o my room. I locked the window twice-checked it, and kept the light

ton

my racing thoughts. Every time I'd

unshot, and those cold, piercing

ikolas'

dn't com